A COUNCIL house tenant has been ordered to ship a 15ft sailing boat out the garden of his terrace home.

A COUNCIL house tenant has been ordered to ship a 15ft sailing boat out the garden of his terrace home.

Steve McBride was warned 16 months ago the rusting blue and white craft was an eyesore that had drifted into troubled waters with angry neighbours in Manchester.

But 40-year-old Mr McBride refused to shift it - and could now face jail unless he weighs anchor.

He has stored the boat in his 20ft-long back yard in Kennard Close, Moston, since April last year when he bought it from a friend for £200.

Manchester city council wrote to him several times and sent officers to his home to warn him not to use the property as an inner-city harbour. But each time the boat remained firmly anchored to the grass - along with carpets, rubbish and a large piece of metal.

The council eventually went to Manchester county court and a judge awarded the injunction. The decision means Mr McBride could face two years in prison for contempt of court unless he moves the craft within 28 days.

Basil Curley, the council's executive member for housing, said: "It is part of the agreement with all tenants that they keep their homes and gardens in a fit state and consider the effects of their activities on their neighbours.

"We have given this tenant ample opportunity to comply with our requests but he has ignored them, so we have had no option but to obtain a court order against him."

Neighbours deny they have been responsible for sinking unemployed Mr McBride's dream, but admit they find the boat an eyesore.

He claims the council is treating him shabbily, and all he needs is a stay of execution until he can have the sailing boat seaworthy.

"I have never had any intention of keeping it in the yard," he said. "I have had pals working on refitting the cabin and I just need some time for the job to be finished.

"I reckon it would need a few more weeks' work and it should be ship-shape.

"The idea was that we'd do the boat up and then keep it moored on the coast or up in the Lakes and have some fun with it.

"I have already spent a lot of time and quite a bit of money on the refit, but unless the council relents, it will all have been for nothing. I'll just have to get rid of it."

l It is the second time in six months that a "suburban skipper" has been given his sailing orders.

In April, the Willow Park Housing Trust told Mick Giff-Dowd to move his £7,500, two-berth dinghy from the drive of his home in Hollyhedge Road, Wythenshawe.

Heartbroken Mick, 69, paid £70 to have the boat taken away for scrap - having never got the chance to use it.